Warning: Long Post =)

It's Oh So Romantic <3

So went to Tauranga (taow-rang-ah) today...it was good fun! Though the drive back was quite hectic xD

The ride to Tauranga was nice. The country and greenery were just lovely. So nice on the eyes.

You won't believe what we passed by..."The Shire". The movie scene area where The Lord of the Rings was filmed O.O We so wanted to stop there and take a look around, plus take some photos...but we were already running late (we were to meet up with my uncle). We stopped at a place where you can see the whole of the Waikato region, taking some photos and walking around to un-numb (?) our legs.

N.B. The camera is still messed up for an unknown reason *angry/sad* But I shall find a way to get loads of the pictures I took and share them on here. So this post is just going to be a long wordy kinda post =P

Anywho, got to Tauranga, found my uncle (we were 5 people in total. Baba, Mama, Uncle, one of my bro's, and myself), sat at a place, saying our hello's and chatted for a bit. Then we decided to get a move on and head to the beach!!! <3 style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0);">What you can do in Tauranga:

Climb the famous Mauao, soak in the hot pools, stop for a coffee at one of the regions many cafes. Taste the best fish'n chips, go dolphin watching, take a helicopter flight - the options are endless.

But it's mainly mainly known for it's great beach. The sand is almost white-ish, the water is blue-ish/green, pure, clear and clean, and in my opinion; Tauranga is probably one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the North Island. I don't know what it is about it that I find so romantic...but I truly truly think that it's a great place for a honeymoon. You get to rent villas/houses/apartments/etc, that are just across the beach. The shops are near by, it's beauty is breath taking...you basically have everything you need....except maybe for a special someone just to be the "cherry on top" =P

It's my number 1 favorite city in NZ. If I do get to visit NZ in the future (after I return back to the ME inshallah)...Tauranga will the first place I visit!!

Back to the Trip

We found a good spot between 2 trees (shade), on a grassy area that looks over the beach/sea perfectly. We were all starving so we dug into our lunch. Now this is one of my favorite parts of this trip. Lunch!! Mama had cooked up Biryani (with smoked flavoured marinated chicken, little baked potatoes cut in cubes, salad made by yours truly, and yohgurt) this morning and Ya Ellahy (OMG!!) Was it GOOD...or....WAS IT GOOD!!! I ate so much that I was about to explode and had reached the level where I start giggling xD 7ala xD I truly truly wish that I had taken a picture of it...but due to the the hunger and just the whole thing looking so DAMN good...resisting was an obvious problem =P

After eating, I swear you just wanted to lie down from how full you've become. The breeze and weather is just too perfect for a nap. But we all ended up talking to each other. My bro went for a swim. My uncle (who's like one of my best-friends) and I played soccer. Just passing the ball to each other and some times attacking each trying to steal the soccer ball. He was such a Meany to me. Just because he "know's" how to play he was tricking and mocking me. He also kept on pushing me around xD But it was good fun and a good laugh. Then Baba joined after a while and some how I became the "Piggy in the middle" -_____- that was NO fun at all...I was starting to get tired from all the running around they made me do xD Then my bro joined us; He and I teamed up against Baba and his bro =D It was fun.

We eventually got so tired and hot, that we sat down and started drinking some soft drinks. After 15 minutes, my Uncle, bro and I went down to the beach so the 2 guys can have a swim, and I wanted to run on the muddy sand and stand in the water staring at it's beauty. The waves were so high...they looked like so much fun. I watched my uncle and bro as they tried catching some waves as I dug my feet into the sand. Wow...did I get dizzy when the tide goes back out. LOL! I spotted an Ugly Jelly-fish near by =P I so wanted to touch it but was too scared that I might get stung or something. So I just watched it as it tried to fight against the incoming waves and head out to sea. Poor thing it was truly struggling.

Eventaully I got hot, bored and sick of just standing there and thinking about the many things that are in my mind (since I was alone) so I headed back to our spot to dry up, listen to some music and take a mini nap. As I was heading back I spotted this old skinny lady (I give her late 70's in age) wearing a swim suit O.O I absolutely think that woman at that age shouldn't wear togs at all xD It was absolutely disturbing seeing her flesh...due to her being super skinny her flesh was all...Jelly like and with every step she took made the flesh on her legs move around in a freaky way =S I reached our spot, put out my feet where the sun was (the warmth of the sun on my skin is such a soothing feeling), because the bottom of my jeans were drenched. Put on my head phones and put my hat on my eyes (cowboy style =P) to cover them from the blazing sun. After an hour maybe, the guys were back, we were packing and on our way back to Hami.

The Hectic Drive Home

We took a wrong turn...but that allowed us to do a bit of exploring about in Tauranga which made me fall in love with it more! But eventually we found the road we needed and decided to head to the McLaren Falls, just outside Tauranga. Now those falls were something and I wish I could post some of the pics I took to show what I mean, but...=(
Bottom line is, it was absolutely beautiful!

We left after a few minutes of exploring, to realise that the light for the petrol is blinking...deh deh deh!! Our tank was empty. We realised this after we've already left for Hami xD So it was a bit too late for us to go back to Tauranga city. Now that I think about it...I don't remember seeing any petrol station there =S or maybe it was just me =P Mama started panicing, Baba was trying to calm her down saying that it will be fine till we get to the next city (I don't think so Baba =P), while I was just nibbling on some Salt n' Vinger chips xD talk about being calm eh! Oh oh...this HUGE as bee came into the car and was just flying around my bag...I caught one of it's wings softly (didn't want to hurt it) and let it go out side the window \m/

So FINALLY we found a tiny Petrol station just at the intersection between Tirau, Rotorua, Hamilton and AUX, so we slightly celebrated the find =P We parked our car next to one of the gas pumps (?) and to our shock and amazement, the friggin' station was closed. Wth?! So we stayed sitting in the car. Doing nothing. Just staring into space with shock and amazement, by our failure of finding an OPENED station xD. So we moved on and hoped that the gas left will last us to the next gast station found. Next gas station was a Mobile station. I tell you the celebration for this gas station was quite big! xD But guess what?!?! Surprise surprise...it was closed as well. I mean come on!!! We couldn't believe our luck!! Btw at the same time we were furthering our distance from Hamilton because we wanted to take the route to the closest town.

It's Finally Come to an End!

Third time lucky eh! We were near a town called Matamata that my uncle is very familiar with...so he lead the way to the nearest gas station. And there it was (laaaah *holy music*) a 24/7 gas station opened. Everyone got out of the car except for myself...I was too lazy, too tired to move from my comfy seat. So I just sat there while some went to the restroom, other's bought something, etc, etc. Everyone was reliefed and so happy that we didn't care about what would happen afterwards...the cars tank is FULL. That's all that mattered.

We were on the way back to Hami...and at last I can relax, shut my eyes and listen to my music while enjoying the soft yet fast acceleration of our car. I felt so sad when we arrived at our house. For some reason I found the ride back shorter than the ride to Tauranga =( I just wanted the ride back to continue for like another hour or 2. It was so nice and comforting. But meh...we were back home from a great/fun yet crazy trip =)...

I've reached the limit. I need a break from the road/traveling xD Even though I enjoy it so much...but enough is enough!
For the next 2 days, I just want to sleep, wake up late, watch some anime, catch up with some friends, play my guitar, and just be a lazy person!! xD

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It took me a while writing this post, not because it is long (sorry about that btw =P). I was juggling it with my noodles, e-mailing my boss, ES and washing the dishes. But wa-lah....this is the end of it =P

I'm off to bed.

G'Night

=D